San Diego Chargers coach Norv Turner and his team were found not to have gained a competitive advantage by their use of a sticky towel against the Denver Broncos. / Jake Roth, US Presswire

by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

by Chris Strauss, USA TODAY Sports

It took three weeks for the NFL to determine that the San Diego Chargers were not in violation of any competitive rules by using adhesive towels during their October 15 35-24 loss to Denver.

Several days after the game, in which San Diego blew a 24-point halftime lead, a story broke that the team was being investigated for using an illegal "Stickum" like substance. A few seconds after that story broke, countless jokes about how it didn't work also broke on Twitter.

Eventually it was determined that the substance in question was actually an adhesive golf towel and the whole thing seemed even more ridiculous. Well, today the NFL finally released a statement on the matter and it appears that the matter has been settled.

"Following a review of the San Diego Chargers use of towels that included an adhesive substance in an October 15 game against the Denver Broncos, the NFL hasdetermined that the club did not violate a competitive rule by use of the towels," the statement read.

So they're off the hook, right?

"However, NFL game officials are charged with protecting the integrity and competitivefairness of the games and club staff members, like players and coaches, have a clear obligation to cooperate in this effort and comply with the direction of game officials. As a result of the failure of club staff to follow the directive of a game official to immediately surrender the towels when directed to do so, and to attempt to conceal the towels, the Chargers have been fined $20,000."

$20,000 for not handing over laundry. Also, due to a lack of testing, the league has banned all adhesive towels or similar products on game days until further notice.

If I'm Norv Turner, I'm finding a way to fill Roger Goodell's office with two million pennies out of spite.